An extended absence would have been a huge blow to the Cubs. Though Bryant’s numbers are down slightly — he’s currently hitting .259 with 16 home runs and 32 RBIs — he’s still a cornerstone in the lineup and on defense, where his versatility is valuable and his play at third base is considered steady.

If there’s a silver lining to all of the Cubs drama, it’s that they are still firmly in the mix in the NL Central. They entered play on Wednesday at 39–38, which put them one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place. But even they can’t be expected to sustain a competitive record given the growing list of injuries.

The Cubs need Bryant and Anthony Rizzo on the field now more than ever with Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward also on the sidelines, in addition to the struggles that got Kyle Schwarber demoted and have Jake Arrieta searching for answers. And now they may be forced to dig deeper than we ever imagined just to stay afloat.